The Univeristy of Melbourne The Royal Melbourne Hopspital

A joint venture between The University of Melbourne and The Royal Melbourne Hospital

  • Research Groups
    • Brown Group

      Lorena’s group is dedicated to understanding different aspects of influenza virus structure and replication, as well as the host immune response to the virus that may impact on disease outcome. They study areas of vulnerability that can be targeted by vaccines and therapeutics to control seasonal and highly pathogenic isolates.


    Current Projects


    Lab Team

    Brown Group

    • Senior Research Officer | Leader, Doherty COVID-19 Antiseptics Platform
    • Senior Research Officer
    • Sanja Trifkovic
      PhD student
    • Robert Allen
      PhD student
    • Patricia Lee
      PhD student
    • Emily Fairmaid
      Research Assistant
    • Charley Mackenzie-Kludas
      Research Assistant
    • Wy Ching Ng
      Research Assistant
    • Michael Marazita
      Technical Assistant
    • Takuji Daito
      Visitor

    Clinical Research

    Anyone can be infected by influenza, but some people are more susceptible to infection, severe disease and clinical complications. Clinical studies at the Doherty Institute are focused on specific risk groups, seeking to understand characteristics of viruses and the immune system that result in increased susceptibility and clinical severity. In particular, current studies are considering:

    Doherty Institute researchers are also characterising immune responses to influenza vaccination or infection in various groups of people, including:

    Now recruiting volunteers

    There are currently no Now recruiting volunteers

    Current projects

    • Influenza

      How do cross-reactive memory B cells affect influenza vaccine titers?

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    • Influenza

      LIFT: Investigating T cell immunity to influenza in Indigenous populations

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    • Influenza

      Understanding immunity to influenza viruses in patients hospitalised with severe and fatal disease

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